Condiment dispensing nozzle apparatus and method

Abstract

The nozzle of the present invention has an internal chamber, condiment input and discharge ports in fluid communication with the internal chamber, and an extension downstream of the condiment discharge port. Preferably, the internal chamber has a flow disrupter taking the form of a funnel-shaped end portion adjacent to the condiment discharge port. The internal chamber is preferably elongated and has a larger cross section than the spout to which the nozzle is connected to reduce condiment pressure and flow speed entering the nozzle. Condiment pressure can also be reduced in the internal chamber by other types of flow disrupters: protrusions extending from the internal chamber walls into the condiment flow and/or by an insert received within the internal chamber. At the funnel-shaped end portion, condiment flow adjacent to the internal chamber side walls is preferably diverted toward the discharge port to generate crossflow and turbulence, further reducing condiment pressure and force. The condiment discharge port is defined by one or more apertures preferably selected based upon the type of condiment dispensed to prevent drips between condiment dispenses. Preferably, the nozzle extension surrounds the condiment discharge port and is a skirt defining a discharge recess. Laterally-exiting condiment from the condiment discharge port is preferably diverted by the extension to prevent condiment splatter on the user and surroundings. The extension also hides condiment buildup and dangling condiment, partially encloses such condiment from the surrounding environment, and protects such condiment from contamination.

We claim:  
     
       1. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       a condiment input port defined in the nozzle body;  
       a chamber within the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the condiment input port;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber;  
       a flow disrupter in the chamber for disrupting condiment flow upstream of the condiment discharge port, the flow disrupter having a funnel-shaped end wall of the chamber adjacent to the discharge port for funneling condiment in the chamber to the discharge port, wherein the funnel-shaped end wall has an axis and opens into the chamber at an angle with respect to the axis, the angle being between 30 degrees and 90 degrees; and  
       a skirt extending from a portion of the nozzle body beyond the condiment discharge port.  
     
     
       2. The nozzle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the angle is about 45 degrees. 
     
     
       3. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       a condiment input port defined in the nozzle body;  
       a chamber within the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the condiment input port;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber;  
       a flow disrupter in the chamber for disrupting condiment flow upstream of the condiment discharge port, wherein the flow disrupter includes a concave end portion of the chamber joining at least one side wall of the chamber with the condiment discharge port; and  
       a skirt extending from a portion of the nozzle body beyond the condiment discharge port.  
     
     
       4. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       a condiment input port defined in the nozzle body;  
       a chamber within the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the condiment input port;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber;  
       a flow disrupter in the chamber for disrupting condiment flow upstream of the condiment discharge port, the flow disrupter having at least one baffle in the chamber for diverting condiment flow in the chamber, wherein the at least one baffle extends from an insert received within the chamber; and  
       a skirt extending from a portion of the nozzle body beyond the condiment discharge port.  
     
     
       5. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       an expansion chamber within the nozzle body, the expansion chamber being elongated in shape and having a length;  
       a discharge recess defined in an end of the nozzle body;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body, in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the discharge recess, and located at an end of the expansion chamber, the discharge port defining a restriction between the expansion chamber and the discharge recess; and  
       a flow disrupter in the expansion chamber for disrupting flow in the expansion chamber,  
       wherein a majority of the length of the expansion chamber has a decreasing cross-sectional area toward the condiment discharge port.  
     
     
       6. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       an expansion chamber within the nozzle body, the expansion chamber being elongated in shape and having a length;  
       a discharge recess defined in an end of the nozzle body;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body, in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the discharge recess, and located at an end of the expansion chamber, the discharge port defining a restriction between the expansion chamber and the discharge recess; and  
       a flow disrupter in the expansion chamber for disrupting flow in the expansion chamber, the flow disrupter having a funnel-shaped end of the expansion chamber in which the condiment discharge port is located, wherein the funnel-shaped end has an axis and opens into the expansion chamber at an angle with respect to the axis of between 30 degrees and 90 degrees.  
     
     
       7. The nozzle as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the angle is about 45 degrees. 
     
     
       8. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       an expansion chamber within the nozzle body;  
       a discharge recess defined in an end of the nozzle body;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body, in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the discharge recess, and located at an end of the expansion chamber, the discharge port defining a restriction between the expansion chamber and the discharge recess; and  
       a flow disrupter in the expansion chamber for disrupting flow in the expansion chamber, the flow disrupter including a concave portion of the expansion chamber defining at least part of the end of the expansion chamber.  
     
     
       9. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       an expansion chamber within the nozzle body;  
       a discharge recess defined in an end of the nozzle body;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the discharge recess, the discharge port defining a restriction between the expansion chamber and the discharge recess; and  
       a flow disrupter in the expansion chamber for disrupting flow in the expansion chamber, wherein the flow disrupter includes at least one baffle in the expansion chamber for diverting condiment flow through the nozzle away from a trajectory directly toward the condiment discharge port.  
     
     
       10. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       an expansion chamber within the nozzle body;  
       a discharge recess defined in an end of the nozzle body;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the discharge recess, the discharge port defining a restriction between the expansion chamber and the discharge recess; and  
       a flow disrupter in the expansion chamber for disrupting flow in the expansion chamber, wherein the flow disrupter includes a baffle insert received within the expansion chamber, the baffle insert having at least one baffle positioned to divert condiment flow to a circumferential path in the expansion chamber.  
     
     
       11. A method for dispensing flowable condiment through a nozzle, comprising: 
       receiving flowable condiment through an input port of the nozzle;  
       passing condiment into an expansion chamber in fluid communication with the input port of the nozzle to slow condiment speed;  
       passing condiment through the expansion chamber toward an output port;  
       inducing crossflow of condiment in the expansion chamber adjacent to the output port;  
       constricting condiment flow through the output port; and  
       shielding against lateral condiment spray exiting the output port.  
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising inducing circumferential condiment flow in the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein circumferential condiment flow is induced by at least one baffle in the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein circumferential condiment flow is induced by protrusions on inside walls of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising converging condiment flow in the expansion chamber toward the output port via a funnel-shaped end wall of the expansion chamber, the output port located in the funnel-shaped end wall of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising converging condiment flow in the expansion chamber toward the output port via a concave end wall of the expansion chamber, the output port located in the concave end wall of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising gradually constricting condiment flow as the condiment flow passes through the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the output port has an axis and wherein at least a portion of the condiment flow exits the output port at an angle with respect to the axis. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein shielding against lateral condiment spray exiting the output port includes redirecting condiment flow via at least one wall extending from adjacent the output port. 
     
     
       20. A method of controlling condiment discharge from a nozzle, comprising: 
       passing condiment flow through an expansion chamber;  
       diverting condiment flow from internal walls of the expansion chamber toward an output port in fluid communication with the expansion chamber;  
       discharging a portion of condiment flow from the output port at an angle with respect to an axis of the output port; and  
       diverting the portion of discharged condiment flow to a trajectory having a reduced angle with respect to the axis of the output port.  
     
     
       21. The method as claimed in  claim 20 , further including inducing vortex flow in the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein vortex flow is induced in the expansion chamber via at least one protrusion extending from at least one internal wall of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       23. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein vortex flow is induced in the expansion chamber via at least one baffle in the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       24. The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein condiment flow is diverted from the internal walls of the expansion chamber radially toward the output port. 
     
     
       25. The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein condiment flow is diverted from the internal walls of the expansion chamber by a funnel-shaped end wall of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       26. The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein condiment flow is diverted from the internal walls of the expansion chamber by a concave-shaped end portion of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
       27. The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein diverting the portion of discharged condiment flow includes blocking the portion of discharged condiment flow from a lateral trajectory out of the nozzle. 
     
     
       28. The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the portion of discharged condiment flow is blocked by at least one wall extending from adjacent to the output port. 
     
     
       29. The method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the at least one wall is a skirt around the output port. 
     
     
       30. A condiment dispensing nozzle comprising: 
       a nozzle body;  
       a condiment input port defined in the nozzle body;  
       a chamber within the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the condiment input port;  
       a condiment discharge port defined in the nozzle body and in fluid communication with the chamber; and  
       a flow disrupter in the chamber, the flow disrupter having a plurality of flow barriers positioned in the chamber to disrupt condiment flow upstream of the condiment discharge port, wherein each barrier has at least one aperture defined therein through which condiment can flow.  
     
     
       31. The nozzle as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein at least two of the apertures are misaligned with respect to one another to force condiment flow to turn within the chamber. 
     
     
       32. A method for controlling condiment flow in a nozzle, the method comprising: 
       passing condiment flow into an expansion chamber defined in the nozzle;  
       passing the condiment flow past a flow disrupter in the nozzle;  
       disrupting the condiment flow in the nozzle responsive to passing condiment flow past the flow disrupter; and  
       discharging the condiment flow from an output port of the nozzle,  
       wherein passing the condiment flow past a flow disrupter includes passing the condiment flow past barriers extending into the condiment flow in the nozzle and passing the condiment flow through misaligned apertures in order to cause the condiment flow to turn within the nozzle.  
     
     
       33. A method for controlling condiment flow in a nozzle, the method comprising: 
       passing condiment flow into an expansion chamber defined in the nozzle;  
       passing the condiment flow past a flow disrupter in the nozzle;  
       disrupting the condiment flow in the nozzle responsive to passing condiment flow past the flow disrupter; and  
       discharging the condiment flow from an output port of the nozzle, wherein passing the condiment flow past a flow disrupter includes diverting condiment flow from interior walls of the nozzle to generate crossflow in the nozzle upstream of the output port.  
     
     
       34. A method for controlling condiment flow in a nozzle having an axis, the method comprising: 
       passing condiment flow into a chamber in the nozzle;  
       diverting the condiment flow around the axis in a first direction; and  
       diverting the condiment flow around the axis in an opposite direction to disrupt the condiment flow through the nozzle.  
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein the steps of diverting condiment flow includes disrupting condiment flow with at least one flow barrier. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , further comprising passing condiment flow through at least one aperture in the nozzle defined by the at least one flow barrier. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 34 , further comprising inserting an insert within the chamber in the nozzle, wherein the condiment flow is diverted by the insert within the chamber.